How to Use Copilot in Edge Browser

There are many great features in Microsoft’s Edge browser, not least of which is the integration of Microsoft’s AI chatbot, Copilot.

This generative artificial intelligence debuted in 2023 as Bing Chat, and has since assumed a more prominent role in the tech giant’s software offerings. It’s now easily accessible from within Microsoft Office, and even Windows 11 itself.

For Edge users, it’s an invaluable tool for composing, investigating, and so much more. This article will take you through how to activate and use Copilot when browsing with Edge.

Activating Copilot in Edge

If you’re a regular Edge user, odds are you’ve already seen the Copilot logo in the top right of your browser screen. The AI chatbot is now a standard addition to the browser and should be activated by default.

If it isn’t, you’ll need to activate it manually. Here’s how:

Step 1: Click on the “Menu” button on the top right of your screen.

Step 2: Select “Settings” to open a new Settings tab.

Step 3: In the sidebar of the tab, choose the “Sidebar” option.

Step 4: Under “App and notification settings”, click the Copilot box.

Step 5: Check whether the slider next to “Show Copilot” is on. If not, slide it to the right.

In addition to activating Copilot, you can also select whether you want the AI chatbot to offer you chat suggestions when shopping with Edge, or to use your browsing history to provide better contextual answers. As these two options involve allowing Copilot to access your data, you don’t have to agree if you’re not keen.

IP Permissions

In really rare cases, you may find that Copilot still isn’t working in Edge after you’ve enabled it. This could be due to an issue with IP address access. To function properly in the browser, Copilot needs access to the following IPs:

• *.bing.com
• *.bing.net
• login.live.com
• challenges.cloudflare.com

The generative capabilities of Copilot depend on access to these networks. However, access may be restricted by the “allow list” of your network security solutions, such as firewalls, antivirus software, or other dedicated programs.

In these cases, it’s best to check with your network security provider to see if some overzealous permissions are preventing you from accessing Copilot.

How to Use Copilot in Edge Browser

Once everything is set up and the Copilot logo is visible, you’re ready to start using this powerful tool. Copilot runs via a sidebar, where you can input all sorts of questions and requests. There are two ways to open it:

• From the corner – In the top right of your browser, click the Copilot icon. The sidebar should appear. Simply click it again to hide it.
  
  

• Keyboard shortcut – You can also call up the Copilot sidebar anytime by using your keyboard. When browsing, just press “Ctrl+Shift+.” to bring up the chatbot. Press the shortcut again to hide it.

Once the sidebar pops up, Copilot is ready for your input.

Term Searching

Suppose there’s a paragraph you want to investigate further or a word you don’t understand. If you highlight any text, you can input it straight into the chatbox and have Copilot shoot back a response. There are two ways to do this:

• Mini-toolbar – Select your desired text and you should see a vertical toolbar appear next to it. Click the Copilot logo on this toolbar to search with Copilot.
  
  

• Right click – Once you’ve selected some text, right click to bring up the context menu. Select the “Ask Copilot” option and the selected text will be entered into the chatbox.
  
  

Features of Copilot

Now that you know the “how”, let’s have a look at the “what”. Copilot offers Edge users several features to improve your browsing experience, which are organized into two overarching functions:

Chat

Chat allows you to communicate with Copilot as you would with any AI chatbot. There are a few features in Chat mode to assist you:

• Contextual options – Depending on the site you’re visiting, Copilot throws in a few context specific suggestions. On certain webpages, you can request page summaries, suggest questions, generate video highlights and more.
• Search options – Copilot allows you to either keep things specific or to search the wider web. You can choose whether the AI answers using sources from the web, the specific site, or just the page you’re on.
• Different input methods – Copilot goes beyond just inputting simple text. The chatbox menu has options for image uploads, Edge screenshot grabs, and even voice input methods.

Compose

In addition to answering questions, Copilot can also create text for you. The Compose tab may impose a 2000-word limit for now, but still offers many useful features, such as:

• Tone – Choose to keep the writing style professional, or go for a more casual or even humorous style.
• Format – You can structure your post like a paragraph, blog post, email, or list of ideas.
• Length – Keep it brief or go for a more long-form composition.
• Preview – This window allows you to take a sneak peek at the work in progress.